Yarn handling mechanism



Sept. 13, 1966 M. B. EMERY 3,272,416

YARN HANDLING MECHANISM Sept. 13, 1966 M, B, EMERY YARN HANDLING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 Sept 13, 1966 M. B. EMERY YARN HANDLING MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 wwuuh mwwwwwnuw l Sept. 13, 1966 M, Q EMERY YARN HANDLING MECHANI SM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 uw Wm Nw wa: i wh l .IHIWHHMLHTIMINNM n u u u n w NIMH mw MMWMWWWWWWW H H \\\&.\ WN WW Q5 wmf...

Sept. 13, 1966 M. B. EMERY 3,272,416

YARN HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ary-6- SePf- 13, 1966 M. B. EMERY 3,272,416

YARN HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ha] l Sept. 13, 1966 M. B. EMERY YARN HANDLING MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 bmw GNN

United States Patent 3,272,416 YARN HANDLING MECHANISM Michael Burgin Emery, Seatiord, Del., assigner to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,856 11 Claims. (Cl. 226-97) This invention relates generally to the eld of yarn handling or manipulating devices and, more particularly, to a portable device capable of picking up a running length of yarn and imparting to the yarn, selectively, one of several, widely different, tension levels until the yarn can be transferred to a yarn takup or other winding device.

Frequently, lduring the handling of yarn lines of either natur-al or synthetic orgin, it is desirable that the yarn be collected temporarily by an auxiliary device rather than by the regular collecting or windup apparatus. In addition, it is often necessary to manipulate the yarn around various elements of yarn processing apparatus such as around draw rolls or through heat treating enclosures. A temporary collecting device is also used when the yarn is cut from winding on a full package and belfore introducing the yarn to an empty package support and initiating a new windup. Conventional yarn handling devices are described in U.S. Patents 2,667,964 to Miller and 3,094,262 to Ashby et al. This invention is considered to be an improvement over the Miller and Ashby et al. devices.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of portable apparatus which can pick up a moving threadline and impose on that threadline any of several levels of tension which may widely dier for different phases of stringup operations.

A second object is the provision of an apparatus which may Ibe powered solely by pressurized fluid,

A third object is the provision of stringup apparatus that will maintain a high tension level of about l to 2 grams per denier (g.p.d.)

Another important object is the provision of apparatus that can simultaneously handle more than one yarn end.

Additional objectives include the provision of apparatus that automatically self-adjusts tension level as yarn ends are added or subtracted; apparatus that is not af- :fected detrimentally by changes in operating speed, temperature or iinish and that has reserve tension capability for increased tension demands; and apparatus that is selfstringing and easily operated.

Wit-h these and other objects in View, 4the device for imparting tension to yarn as provided herein includes a housing having a through passage for the yarn. Located within the passage are a iluid jet installation to advance the yarn therethrough under tension and driven roll means, in advance of the jet installation, adapted to engage the yarn -to supplement the tension thereon.

Details of two embodiments for carrying out these and other objectives are shown by way of example in the accompanying -drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the main -body unit 14 of the embodiment shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan View of said main body unit 14;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4a is a continuation of FIGURE 4 showing the extreme Iright end of unit 14;

FIGURE 4b is a continuation of FIGURE 4 showing the extreme left end of the embodiment of FIGURE l;

ice

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along line 55 of FIGURE 6 showing the motors in elevation;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 shows characteristic curves of Iair consumption, horsepower and torque versus rotational speed for a typical duid motor used in this device;

FIGURES 9 and l0 show two -orientations of the driven rolls with respect to the yarn line in the operation of this device;

FIGURE 11 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIGURE 11.

In the iirst embodiment chosen lfor illustration, the apparatus generally includes a housing 2 having a through passage 4 4for yarn 6, a fluid jet installation 8 located within passage 4 adapted to advance the yarn 6 under tension through passage 4, and positively drivable rolls or wheels 10 adapted to engage the yarn 6 to supplement the tension thereon. Preferably, but not necessarily an elongated tube 12 is telescoped within passage 4 to aid in initiating the advance of yarn 6 therethrough.

Referring in more detail to FIGURES l, 3, 4, 4a and 4b, housing 2 includes two principal parts: a main body unit 14 and a sleeve 16. Unit 14 is connected to sleeve 16 by means of screw threads 18 (FIGURE 4) and is secured Iby a set screw 20. Sleeve 16 is provided along its central axis with a diffuser 22 which is stepped to form sections of progressively larger internal diameters from right to left. The annular space 23 between diffuser 22 and sleeve 16 serves as a passage for fluid supply to jet 8. At the right end of diffuser 22, within through passage 4, is duid jet 8 having an inlet tube 24 secured to the interior of sleeve 16 by means of a screw thread 26 which provides positional adjustment of tube 24 with respect to the inner end of diiiuser 22. The left end of tu'be 24 is shaped in the form of .a short frustoconical section, part of which tits into the interior of the inner end of diffuser 22 forming an adjustable annulus therewith. Basically, this part of the device is similar to part of the `air aspirated yarn handling tool taught by Ashby et al. is U.S. Patent No. 3,094,262. A central hole 28 which is coaxial with diiuser 22 is provided in inlet tube 24. Exhaust tubing 30 is connected to the left end of diiiuser 22 and is joined at its discharge end (FIG- URE 4b) to a stationary exhaust pipe 32. Pipe 32 discharges into a waste box (not shown). Thus main body unit 14, uid jet 8, diffuse-r 22, exhaust tubing 30 and exhaust pipe 32 provide an elongated through passage 4 for the yarn 6 to pass through.

Exhaust pipe 32 is supported by a housing assembly 34 having a huid supply port 36 which is connected to a source (not shown) of uid under high pressure. Though air is preferred, several other conventional tfiuids` may be employed. Connected to yhousing assembly 34 is a pipe coupling 38 which in turn is connected to liexible tube 40. Tube 40 is joined at its opposite (right) end to sleeve 16 and surrounds exhaust tubing 30 thereby forming an annulus 42. This arrangement permits fluid, entering supply port 36, to flow through annulus 42 into annular space 23 in sleeve 16 and thence to annular chamber 4'4. When inlet tube 24 is properly adjusted, fluid may ilow between inlet tube 24 Aand the inner end of diffuser 22, down diffuser 22, through tubing 30 Vand out exhaust 32. This fluid in so flowing crea-tes subatmospheric pressure within central hole 28 in inlet tube `24.

At the threaded end of sleeve v16, annular chamber 4 4 also feeds Huid to radial ports 46 which in turn feed annular space 48 in main body unit 14. Space '48 opens in to exit 50 which in turn is connected by means of flexible tubing 52 to the inlet of a motor mount 80 to be described below.

Referring still to FIGURE 4 primarily, there is located within main unit 14 a through-going bore 54, delining part of said through passage 4, which is coaxial with screw t-hreads 118 and thus also with sleeve 16. Preferably, slidably mounted in bore 54 is the yarn and secondary air inlet tube 12 which extends outside main unit 14 at its front (right) end where it carries a tip 56 made of an elastomeric material. Tube 12 has through-going bore 58 concentric with its axis.

In an enlarged central portion of main unit 14, there Vis located a shallow, circular cavity 60, the central axis of which is at right angles to tube 12. In the open side of cavity l60 is located a flat circular plate `612 which is 'arranged to be manually rotatable in housing 2 by resting on a shoulder machined in housing 2 so that the innerface of plate 62 is just clear of the periphery of tube 12. Plate `62 is retained in housing 2 on one side by a curved bar 64 while on the other side it is held by a slidable latch 66 mounted on a stop 618 which is slidably mounted in turn on the outside of tube 12 in a suitable cavity in housing 2. A spring 70 urges the stop 68 and latch l66 to the left. The latch 66 is arranged so that it may be moved manually to `the right enough Ito release plate 62 for maintenance work.

Continuing with FIGURE 4, tube 12 is shown in its extreme inward (or left) position where its inner end is in abutment with an elastomeric seal 72 which is secured `to the face of the inlet tube 24. When the tube 12 is situated, -as shown, any sub-atmospheric pressure created by lluid flow in the annular oriice between the inlet tube 24 and -the diffuser 22 will cause ambient air(called secondary fluid) to allow through the hole in tip 56, through the hole 58 in tube 112, through the hole 28, and thence through the diffuser 22, tube 3l) and on through the exhaust pipe 32.

A handle 74 is txed to tube 12 near its left end. This handle extends outside housing 2 through a slot 76 which is parallel to the axis of `tube 12. A short button or pin 78 is attached to tube 12 on the side opposite handle 74. The function of handle 74 and button 78 will be described below.

lDetails of plate 62 and associated assemblies will now be described by reference to FIGURES 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

A motor mount `80 is secured to plate 62 by means of at head .screws 82. Within mount 80 are two bores that are parallel to the axis of rotation of plate 62. These bores each accommodate a uid motor 84. A drilled header 86 in the outer end of motor mount 80 connects `to an inlet 88 to which is joined the (flexible tubing 52 ldescribed above as being connected to exit 50 in housing vfluid from motors 84 emerges from mount 80 through ports 90.

Referring in more detail to FIGURES 6 and 7, the

`motors 8'4 shown for illustration are of the type employing radially slidable vanes 92 which are engaged in slots yin a rotor 94. The rotor 94 is secured to a shalft l96 which is rotatably mounted in ball bearings 98, said bearings being retained in motor housing t100. Within housing 100 is an eccentric sleeve 102 in surrounding relationship to the outer surfaces of the slidable vanes 92. A port 104 in the upper end of motor 84 admits pressurized lluid 4from header 86 via passage 106 to space 108 `and thence through a plurality of ports 110 to a segment of rotor 9'4. The entrapped [fluid expands, causing rotor 94 and shaft 96 to rotate, and spent uid is then ejected from ports 112. The lluid then passes through ports 1x14 in the wall of motor housing `116 and then into the annular space in motor mount from which it may .llow through the ports (FIGURE 5) to the atmosphere.

IFIGURE 2 shows, on the inner lace of plate 62 and running between wheels 10, a cam track 120 extending across plate 62. Track 120 is straight for about 173 of the distance across a diametrical line, then it curves Igenerally downward and emerges from the edge of the plate near latch 66. IButton 78 (')FIGURE 4) carried by tube 12, engages track 120 so that, when handle 74 is manually pushed to the right, button 78 `follows track 120. For about the irst four inches of movement, plate 62 is unaffected but, as button 78 slides through the curved part of track 120, plate l62 is rotated counter-clockwise by about 30 as viewed in FIGURE 2. Further movement of handle 74 causes button 78 to emerge from the extreme (right) end of track `120. Button 78 then comes into abutment -with the left rface of stop 68. Further movement in this direction of button 78 is possible only against the force of spring 70 acting indirectly through stop 68. Now plate 62 may be rotated manually in either direction and if moved another 10 or 15 in a counter-clockwise direction, button 78 will fall into notch 122 in the periphery of plate '62 if handle 74 is released. This mechanism will serve `to releasably lock plate -62 in place at about 45 from its starting point. If desired, plate 62 may be manually rotated `further in the counter-clockwise direction until button 78 engages notch 124 or notch 126, thus releasably locking plate '62 at either about or 135 respectively yfrom its original starting position, and varying the paths of the running yarn line and the different amounts of yarn wrap around Wheels 10. These latter two orientations of plate '62 are illustrated in FIGURES 9 and l0.

In operation, the device may first be used to pick up a threadline directly such as from a spinneret or an airaspirated waste tube as follows. Plate 62 is manually rotated until button 78 falls in the right-'hand end of track and then handle 74 is moved back to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Now the inner end of tube 12 presses against the seal 72 on the inlet tube 24 thus aligning the bore 58 of tube y12 with hole 28 in tube 24. With the iluid supply turned von, air is pulled through the inlet hole in tip 56 and then through the bore 58 of Atube 12. This flow of air serves to pick up a threadline when brought close to `the inlet hole of tip 56. With the parts of the device aligned this way, the yarn is urged at .a relatively low tension through the device by the action of the air and then by the action of the jet 8 but without contact with the wheels 10 which are now spinning at high speed under action of motors 84. This low level of tension is required for certain stages of threadline stringup such as for initial wraps on feed rolls which take a threadline from below a spinneret and furnish it to further processing steps. For proper stringup through lthese further steps, a much higher tension is often required. Now handle 74 is pushed to the right which in turn pushes tube 12 outward and at the same time cams plate 62 with its attached wheels 10 in a counter-clockwise direction as previously described. The running yarn line now becomes uncovered and wheels 10 come into contact with the running yarn line and are able to exert an increased tension on this lthreadline. Further rotation of plate 62 may be used (FIGURES 9 and 10) to increase the amount of wrap of the threadline around wheels 10 and progressively increase the tension applied to the threadline by the fluid-motor driven wheels '10. The wheels 10 are .always driven at a greater surface speed than yarn speed to allow for slippage. The tension imposed by wheels 10 is dependent not only on the extent of wrap around each wheel, but also on the pull exerted on the threadline by the Waste jet 8. That is, the jet 8 creates a low tension on the threadline which tends to pull it straight. This tendency creates a normal force of the threadline against the wheel which is dependent on the angle of wrap taken on each wheel. This tension is further regulated by the pull exerted by jet 8. Since the pull of this part of the device varies directly with the size of the threadline being pnocessed, the device is therefore self-regulating in that it keeps approximately the same tension per unit sizeof yarn even when the size is increased or decreased radically. IThus, a wide variation in tension imposed on a yarn line is made possible by this device and the device is self-regulating with respect to tension variation with the size of the threadline being processed.

As heretofore mentioned, the iiuid used herein is preterably air. However, other conventional fluids could also be employed. When using air, the apparatus can operate at normal plant pressures such as 90 pounds per square inch (psi.) and motors 84 are driven lb-y the pressurized air.

When secondary yarn tube 12 is omitted, handle 74 and but-ton 78 are removed, and motors 84 may be manually rotated into position las desired.

An alternate embodiment, considerably simplified though retaining the basic elements of the first embodiment, is shown in FIGURES 11 and 12. This embodiment generally comprises a housing 200 having a through passage 202 for the yarn, a uid jet installation, formed by inlet tube 206 an-d diffuser 204 located within passage 202 and adapted to advance the y-arn therethrough under tension, and a positively dvable roll or wheel 208 adapted to receive the yarn to supplement the tension thereon. Again, preferably an elongated tube 210 is telescoped within passage 202 to aid in initiating the advance of the yarn therethrough.

Referring in more detail to FIGURES l1 and 12, housling 200 is seen to include a main body unit 212 and a sleeve `214. Sleeve 214 contains jet 206` and hoses and connectors (not shown) which may be identical to those described for the previous embodiment. As shown in FIGURE l2, main body unit 212 is fixed to sleeve 214 by means of threads 216. `On main unit 212 there is mounted a fluid motor 218 which is supplied with pressurized uid from the internal passages of sleeve `214 by connecting tube 220. Again the iiuid is preferaby air, though other fluids may be employed. Fixed to the shaft of motor 218 is roll or Wheel 208. lIn the embodiment illustrated wheel 208 is 2.36 inches in diameter and is coated with a wear-resistant material.

Yarn inlet tube 210 is slidably mounted in housing 200 in a manner similar to the previous embodiment so that in its innermost location, end guide 222 contacts end guide 224 to connect tube 210 with inlet tube 206 in sleeve 214. A pin 226 is attached to yarn tube 210 to slide it back and forth within passage 202. A slot 228 is provided in housing 200 to accommodate pin 226. A hinged cover 230 (FIGURE l1) is provided on housing 200 for access to wheel 208 duning stages of stringup of the yarn handling device. Wheel 208 is within an enlarged section of passage 202, adjacent the yarn, and is substantially coplanar with the yarn. When the tube 210 is slid lto the left so that end guide 222 is in advance (to the left) of the enlarged section of passage 202, hinged cover 230 is opened, and the yarn can be pulled around wheel 208 by a suitable threadup hook (not shown) making a full 360 wrap.

In operation, yarn inlet tube 210 is slid to the right thus causing air to be brought in through this tube. A running theadline is then picked up at the other end of tube 210 in the same manner as described for the previous embodiment. Once threaded through the tube 210 and the jet 206 in sleeve 2i1f4, the yarn inlet tube 210 would be pushed outward so that the running yarn line would be exposed on operating of the cover 230. The threadline would then be seen to be passing out of end guide 222 into end guide 2124. With the threadup hook, the yarn line would now be pulled around wheel 208 nia-king the full 360 wrap. Considerable tension increase in threadline would then be created in a manner similar to that described for the irst embodiment. Two widely different levels of tension are provided depending on Whether or not the threadline is strung around t-he Wheel l208. Alternatively, high and low tension level may he provided by adding a two position valve (not shown) in the supply line 220 to the motor 218. This valve would be used to throttle the fluid during a irst stringup phase. When higher tension is required, opening the valve would allow full flow and increased tension level. Adjustable ports (not shown) might be provided in this val've or i-n the main supply for the entire device to adjust the tension levels to suit various yarn denier levels.

The yarn handling devices described by this invention are extremely valuable in accomplising stringup through various continuous yarn processing steps. The invention represents an outstanding improvement in yarn handling devices over those disclosed in the art. 0f particular signiiic-ance is the fact that both embodiments are selfregulating with respect to the yarn size since the pull of the positively driven wheels varies directly with the size of the yarn being processed. llt is recognized that many modifications -of the device may be made by one skilled in the art. lMany departures lfrom the preferred embodiments described may be made without departing from the spirit `and scope of this invention as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for imparting tension to yarn comprising: a portable closed housing having a through passage for the yarn; a fluid jet installation located within said passage and adapted to -advance said yarn therethrough under tension; and independently driven roll means also located in said passage, in advance of said jet installa-tion, said roll means being adapted to engage `said yarn and to impart additional tension thereto as it advances through said passage.

2. In a device for imparting tension to yarn of the type which includes a portable closed housing defining a through passage for yarn and a fluid jet installation located within said passage for advancing the yarn therethrough under tension, the improvement which comprises independently driven roll means rlocated within said passage, in advance of said jet installation, said roll means being adapted to engage said yarn Iand to supplement the tension imparted thereto by said jet installation.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said passage has an enlarged section in advance of said jet installation to accommodate said driven roll means.

4. The device of claim 2 further comprising means supplying pressurized iiuid to said jet installation; and wherein said driven roll means comprises a pair of driven rolls and a fluid motor connected to each roll, said motors being in Huid connection with the means supplying pressurized Huid.

5. A device for imparting tension to yarn comprising: a housing dening an elongated through passage for the yarn, a portion of said passage being enlarged; a fiuid jet installation located within said passage, rearward of said enlarged portion, to advance the yarn therethrough under tension; an elongated tube telescoped 'within said passage, in advance of said jet installation, and adapted to be shifted between a first position in which it is in substantially :abutting relationship with said jet installation to aid in initiating the advance of yarn through said passage and a second position in which it is in advance of the enlarged portion of said passage; means tor shifting said elongated tube between said first and second position; and driven roll means located within the enlarged portion of said passage and adapted to engage said yarn, when said tube is in its second position, to impart additional ten-` sion thereto as it advances through said passage.

6. A device for imparting tension to yarn comprising: ahousing defining an elongated through passage for the yarn, a portion of said passage being enlarged; a uid jet installation located within said passage, rearward of said enlarged portion, to advance the yarn therethrough under tension; an elongated tube telescoped within said passage, inA advance of said jet installation, and adapted to be shifted between Ia first position in which it is in substantially :abutting relationship with said jet installation to aid in initiating the advance of yarn through said passage and a second position in which it is in advance of the enlarged por-tion of said passage; a plate having an annular periphery mounted within the enlarged portion of said elongated passage and having an axis substantially perpendicular to said passage, said plate being adapted to be rotated within said passage; a cam track extending across said plate, a pair of driven rolls mounted to said plate and adapted to be rotated therewith to engage said yarn, lwhen said tube is in its second position, to impart additional tension thereto as it advances through said passage; a pin member attached to said tube to shift said tube between said first and second positions, said pin member having a button member attached thereto to engage said cam track to thereby rotate said plate and driven rolls whereby when said tube is shifted from its first position to its second position by said pin member, said driven rolls are shifted into engagement with said yarn by said button member; and means driving said driven rolls.

7. Claim 6 further comprising means supplying pressurized fluid to said jet installation and wherein the means driving said driven rolls comprises a fluid motor con- `nected to each roll, said motors being in fluid connection with the means supplying pressurized uid.

8. Claim 7 further comprising means lto releaseably lock said tube in its second position and said rolls in engagement with said yarn, said means comprising notches provided in the periphery of said plate to receive said button member and spring means mounted within said passage in advance of the enlarged portion of said passage to urge said button member into one of said notches.

9. Claim 8, said notches being at predetermined spaced intervals about said periphery so that said plate and driven rolls may be rotated to impart various levels of additional tension to said yarn.

10. A device for imparting Itension to yarn comprising: a housing defining an elongated through passage for the yarn, a portion of said passage being enlarged; a fiuid jet installation located within said passage, rearward of said enlarged portion, to advance the yarn therethrough under tension; an elongated tube telescoped within said passage, in advance of said jet installation, and adapted to be shifted between a first position in which it is in substantially abutting relationship with said jet installation to aid in initiating the advance of yarn through said passage and a second position in which it is in advance of the enlarged portion `of said passage; means for shifting said elongated` tube between said first and second position; a positively driven roll located within the enlarged portion of said passage and having a periphery substantially coplanar with the yarn advancing through said passage, said driven roll adapted, when said tube is in its second position, to have said yarn pass about its periphery as the yarn advances through said passage to impart addil tional tension thereto; and a fluid motor connected to said driven roll to positively drive it.

1l. Claim 10 further comprising means supplying pressurized fluid to said jet; said fluid motor being in fluid connection with the means supplying pressurized fluid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,432,828 12/1947 stone 226-108 2,667,964 2/1954 Miller 226-97 2,677,427 5/1954 McKinney 226-97 X 2,756,872 7/1956 Harney 226-412 2,971,683 2/1961 Paulsen 266-97 3,094,262 6/1963 Ashby 226-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 174,387 2/1961 Sweden.

M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

J. N. ERLICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR IMPARTING TENSION TO YARN COMPRISING: A PORTABLE CLOSED HOUSING HAVING A THROUGH PASSAGE FOR THE YARN; A FLUID JET INSTALLATION LOCATED WITHIN SAID PASSAGE AND ADAPTED TO ADVANCE SAID YARN THERETHROUGH UNDER TENSION; AND INDEPENDENTLY DRIVEN ROLL MEANS ALSO LOCATED IN SAID PASSAGE, IN ADVANCE OF SAID JET INSTALLATION, SAID ROLL MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID YARN AND TO IMPART ADDITIONAL TENSION THERETO AS IT ADVANCES THROUGH SAID PASSAGE. 